Applicator



Patented July 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPLIGATOR Application January 7, 1937, Serial No. 119,426

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved form of applicator by means of which medicinal compounds, preferably in jelly form, may be introduced or applied internally of the body.

An object of this invention is to provide in a simplified structure, an applicator which may be readily charged with cartridges of medicinal compound in which the compound may be transported and sold.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cartridge adapted for direct insertion in the applicator and provided with a removable closure member at one end, and a plug at the other end which is adapted to act as a piston to eject material from the cartridge and applicator, the closure member and plug acting to protect the compound against contamination and deterioration by the exclusion of dirt, air, moisture and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an applicator, the construction of which facilitates the insertion and removal of the cartridges into and from the applicator.

The applicator is so constructed, and the cartridge is employed in connection therewith in such a manner, that the removable closure member is removed from the cartridge when it is inserted in the applicator, and then again applied to the cartridge to protect the contents.

More specifically the invention involves a vaginal applicator which is of such a simple construction that it adapts itself to convenient use.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement and relative location of parts, all in accordance with the following disclosure.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central cross sectional view through the structure of the invention showing only a portion of the air pressure bulb in sections;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the cartridge which is shown with the closure member and movable plug in place, and indicated as filled with medicinal compound;

Fig. 3 is a right hand end view thereof.

As shown in the drawing the device comprises an elongated tubular member I made of any suitable material, either transparent or opaque, and preferably of material which does not break easily, such as hard rubber, Bakelite or other plastic material. One end of the tube is smoothly rounded as indicated at 2, and at that end is provided with a bore of reduced diameter as indicated at 3 to form the shoulder 4 at the point of junction between the large bore of the tube and the bore 3.

At the other end the tube is externally threaded as indicated at 5 preferably by means of multiple threads. A cap member 6 preferably of the same material is provided with a central passage of different diameters. The portion of larger diameter is internally threaded with multiple threads to engage the threads 5 on the exterior of the tubular portion I. The end I of the cap is constructed so that it may be forced into the end of an air pressure bulb I3 which is of common construction and provided with a valve I4 which closes when the bulb is pressed to prevent the escape of air through the valve, but which opens when the bulb is released so that the bulb may fill up with air, thus destroying any tendency of the medicinal compound to be drawn back into the bulb. At 8 is the cartridge which is in the form of a long, thin wall tube, preferably made of glass, but which of course may be made of any suitable material which will protect its contents. The tube 8 is provided with a peripheral bead Be at one end, and at the other end with a portion of reduced diameter as indicated at I I which will just nicely slide into the bore 3. This cartridge tube is provided with a removable closure member I2 which may be made of any suitable material, as for example, soft rubber which will fit into the open end thereof. The tube is filled with a medicinal compound which may be a liquid, a powder or a jelly, and is then sealed at the other end by means of a plug I5 which may be of any suitable material which will seal the tube and not readily come out, and yet which will slide down the tube when air pressure is applied to the end thereof. Cotton may be used for this purpose, or wax which will not freeze fast to the wall of the tube, and yet will adhesively engage it to the extent that it cannot readily be displaced. The medicinal compound has been indicated at I 6 and substantially fills the tube.

To insert a fluid cartridge into the device, the tube I is screwed out of the cap 6. The multiple threads insure that this may be accomplished quickly. The cartridge 8 is provided with a resilient, annular washer I0 which may be of soft rubber which fits under the bead 8a. The closure member I2 is removed from the end and the car tridge is inserted into the tube I until the washer l0 abuts the end thereof, and the portion II lies in the bore 3. The closure member I2 may then be reinserted if desired. The cap 6 is then secured on to the tube so that the resilient sealing washer 9 is sealed against the bead 8a. This forms an air tight joint.

When the device is to be used the closure memher I2 is removed, and the bulb I3 is squeezed. The contents of the cartridge 8 is then ejected from the end of the device.

From the above description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the structure herein disclosed may be embodied in other physical forms without departure from the novel scope of the invention. I do not, therefore, desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as given for purposes of illustration but rather to the claims which are granted me.

What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An applicator of the type described comprising a tubular housing open at both ends and of reduced internal diameter at one end, a cap securable to the other end, said cap having a passage therethrough, an air pressure bulb secured to the cap, a tubular cartridge having a reduced diameter at one end to fit snugly in the reduced end of the housing, and a bead at the other end, a resilient washer surrounding said cartridge and lying against said bead, a second resilient washer within said cap and adapted to bear against the outer edge of said bead when said cap is secured to said housing, whereby said bead is gripped between said resilient washers, and an air piston slidably mounted in the cartridge and adapted to be moved from the cap end toward the restricted end by air pressure created by the bulb.

2. An applicator of the type described, comprising a tubular housing open at both ends and being of reduced internal diameter at one end, a removable cap secured to the other end having a passage therethrough, an air pressure bulb secured to the cap, a tubular cartridge within the housing, a seating member in the cap against which the cartridge is sealed at one end, said cartridge being of reduced diameter at the other end to fit snugly in the constricted end of the housing, an air piston slidably mounted in the cartridge and adapted to be moved from the cap end towards the other end by air pressure created by the bulb, and a removable closure member snugly fitting in the reduced end of the cartridge, said closure member being inserted in said cartridge during filling and storage thereof and being usable as closure for said applicator after the cartridge has been inserted therein.

WILLIAM HEIDBROCK. 

